NFC - S3 Chassis (100% aluminum, ITX, and made in America)

[subtec]

I feel like this design has some conflicting design cues. What's the purpose of the angled design of the side panel cutouts? What's it trying to convey? Speed? Motion? Where is it drawing your eyes? It seems, to me, to evoke architecture or structural supports, but ones that feel superfluous to the design.

What about the logo? The font choice and stylized wing graphic don't seem to fit with any of the other design elements. Or eachother, for that matter.

I think you have the basis for a nice minimalist design here, but I think you've taken a wrong turn by trying to add "design." It seems like so many designers feel like they need to justify their existence in a company and end up overdesigning things. Not that that applies in your case. Dieter Rams said, "good design is as little design as possible." That's worth keeping in mind. Check out more of his design philosophy and designs.

If it were me, I might change the cutouts to three equal-sized horizontal rectangles. Or replace the side panel with a single piece of perforated aluminum that wraps around the top and bottom. That might hurt airflow too much though. For the logo, I'd work on the font and either simplify and move the graphic, or ditch it altogether. I'd like to see the screws on the back-side panel/stand moved out to the corners (or hidden entirely), if possible. The shiny power button clashes with the matte/satin finish of the rest of the case. Would be nice if it were flush and the same material/finish as the rest. I'd like to see more alignment between the elements on the front panel, though I'd probably ditch the optical slot and logo depression anyway (silkscreened or lasered logo instead).

My $0.02.

[bamtan2]

1. link: http://www.tomshardware.com/pictures...-mini-itx.html -- flip through this whole story, it is amazing. I really enjoy how the falcon northwest guy told his story in such detail.

2. one can always combine two power supplies, two power bricks, and two holes in the back. cumbersome but not to the people who want it. just an option. it is possible that this would work well. have one power supply configuration as default, with a supplementary one for extra cost, allowing extra video power. people like having options, and options can extract more value for you. example: a space in the case for a 200W psu board, but it only comes with a 100W board by default. upgrade to the 200W psu and adapter for extra money. further upgrade to a psu2psu adapter and a 160W picopsu with adapter for extra-extra money and high end power.

3. in a case with little air flow, dust is definitely not much of a concern. I'm just sensitive to it because almost every case ever has dealt with dust poorly, making you choose between your stuff getting caked, and you being hassled constantly to get in and clean it. P180 was one of the first cases to make me really happy -- a dense door on the front for sound proofing, and big removable filters behind it. even though you did need to remove plastic and metal to make it work best.

4. I want to play with a falcon northwest tiki so very much. but now I am also curious about what is inside your case. you said "my powersupply combo"....... :-)